Five Towns team takes second in science contest

The Proton Pumper team of Tzipora Schein and Bhawan Sandhu placed second and won $7,000 in the Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change category in the STEM Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition at Cooper Union college in Manhattan on July 17.

“Hearing my name being called for second place filled me with so much happiness,” Sandhu said. “I do not remember walking up on stage but I do remember how I felt. I was in awe.”

The international contest, the world’s only outcome-based STEM focused research and design challenge, was hosted by Rockville Centre-based Center for Science, Teaching & Learning. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and technology.

Spellman High Voltage, founded in 1947, is a global supplier of precision, direct-current, high-voltage power supplies. The CSTL is a nonprofit that encourages science learning and literacy through programs it develops for children and adults. The 20 Clean Tech Competition finalists, expanded this year from 10, were chosen from among 500 entries from nearly 1,200 registrants in 40 countries. The first-place prize is $10,000, second is $7,000, third is $5,000 and the fourth- through 10th-place finishers won $1,000 each. All of the finalists received $200 stipends to develop a prototype.

Sandhu and Schein’s project “Creating a Novel, Cost-Effective and Durable Proton-Conducting Membrane for Hydrogen Fuel Cell,” aims to increase the stability of hydrogen fuel cells and make them less expensive to produce. The pair created a membrane that uses plain filter paper as what project mentor Rebecca Isseroff called a “scaffold” for a mixture of nafion solution and graphene oxide that conducts hydrogen ions and is more stable at higher temperatures and less costly to make.

Admitting to a case of the nerves, Sandhu said having Isseroff and her parents at the competition helped. “What made the day better was seeing all the familiar friendly faces of the wonderful kids at the competition, who I had met before on the day of the Spellman Company tour and luncheon,” she said. “I got the incredible opportunity to speak with kids from all around the world. It is somewhat encouraging to know that these kids are as nervous as you are.”

Isseroff is a Lawrence High chemistry teacher. Sandhu is heading into her senior year at Lawrence. Schein graduated from Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School in June. Much of their research was done during the seven-week-long Garcia Summer Scholars program last summer at Stony Brook University, under the direction of Dr. Miriam Rafailovich, and part of it was conducted at Lawrence High. Sandhu is continuing the research at Stony Brook this summer, trying to improve the membranes’ performance, she said.

“I’m thrilled with the outcome of the competition!,” Schein said. Through the Garcia Summer Program, Bhawan and I had the opportunity to use new laboratory equipment and techniques in order to create a more cost effective and stable membrane for hydrogen fuel cells. I am very grateful to Mrs. Isseroff and Dr. Rafailovich for their guidance and support over the course of our project.”

Naomi Lippman, principal of HAFTR High, said she was “extremely proud” of the students, and that their second place finish recognized “the students’ extraordinary talent and intellectual curiosity.” “At HAFTR, we place a high value on STEM and science research, and we are grateful for the sophisticated research opportunities provided to our students at the Garcia Summer Scholars program at Stony Brook University,” she said. “I’m especially thankful to Dr. Miriam Rafailovich of the Garcia Center and Rebecca Isseroff for their outstanding mentoring and guidance of Tzippy and her partner.”